Dental Materials Clinical Applications for Dental Assistants and Dental Hygienists - Chapter 13: Abrasion, Finishing and Polishing

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts from Chapter 13 regarding abrasion, finishing, and polishing in dental materials, focusing on definitions, differences, and clinical applications.

Finishing

The process done immediately after placing a restoration that changes the shape of the restoration.

Polishing

A process that does not change the shape of the restoration but only alters the surface texture.

Cleaning

Refers to the removal of biofilm without abrasion.

Mohs scale

A scale that ranks materials according to their abrasion resistance (hardness).

Grit

The size of the abrasive particles used in the finishing and polishing process.

Two-body abrasive

A type of abrasive that is fixed, such as burs or polishing disks, used without any intermediate lubricant.

Bonded abrasives

Made from abrasive particles uniformly incorporated in a binder and bonded to a device; examples include brownies and greenies.

Coated abrasives

A type of abrasive with particles secured to one surface using adhesive, such as soft rotary disks with flexible backing.

Three-body abrasive

An abrasive system that uses free powders or pastes for polishing.

Prophy paste

A polishing paste that comes in various grits, including coarse, medium, fine, and super fine.

ADA seal

Indicates that the toothpaste's relative dentin abrasivity (RDA) is within acceptable levels defined by the ADA.

Margination

The process of removing excess restorative material to bring the restoration flush with the cavosurface tooth structure.

Flash

Extra material on the occlusal surface of a restoration.

Overhang

Extra material located at the proximal or cervical area of a tooth.

Air polishing

A technique that uses air and abrasive particles to remove plaque and stains from teeth.

Enamel microabrasion

A procedure to remove white lesions or fluorosis using an acid slurry of flour of pumice and hydrochloric acid.

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

Safety gear worn during finishing or polishing, including masks, eyewear, gloves, and gowns.

Staining foods

Foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, wine, and smoking that tend to stain teeth.